In our very first episode of It’s Your Loss, Tony and Johnny kick things off with a raw, hilarious, and honest conversation about how we both stumbled into the world of loss prevention—and why we stuck around. From getting dragged by getaway cars and chasing down thieves with zero training, to discovering the power of data, margin protection, and internal investigations, we unpack how our early LP experiences shaped our philosophies today.

We get into the weeds on the shift from catching shoplifters to understanding complex fraud, operational failures, and organized retail crime. We don’t agree on everything—and that’s the point. This show is all about exploring the full spectrum of loss prevention through different lenses, and in this kickoff episode, you’ll get to know exactly where we each stand. Whether you’re an old-school investigator or a modern-day data nerd (or a little of both), there’s something here for you.

Favorite Quotes:

• "I don't know what they said. I know what I did." – Tony (On early apprehension policies vs. actual practice)
• "They told me our regular shoplifter was back there huffing spray paint." – Johnny (On walking into a Cleveland Kmart as his first day introduction)
• "We were completely judged and reviewed on our numbers." – Johnny (Describing LP performance metrics in his early days)
• "I got dragged by a car. I was holding the coats... and I wouldn't let go." – Tony (Recalling his first unauthorized apprehension attempt)
• "I was one of the ones... I was poo-pooing the coupons." – Tony (On dismissing margin-loss cases earlier in his career)
• "I was basically told, 'stay in your lane.'" – Johnny (When Ops partners dismissed his early data findings on margin loss)
• "We could fill up an entire episode with stories of trying to install cameras." – Johnny (Reflecting on the MacGyver days of covert surveillance installs)
• "The really good folk—the professional shoplifters—people don't even know they were there." – Tony (On the stealth and sophistication of organized retail crime)
• "Looking back now, me of today would have fired me of then." (Reflecting on his wild early LP tactics and rule-breaking)
• "Loss prevention has to be holistic... if you go after one thing, you're gonna miss the others." – Tony (In the final segment, on staying balanced across LP risks)

Timeline Summary:

[3:05] – Tony and I swap our loss prevention origin stories—from Montgomery Ward to Walmart and Kmart

[10:59] – We talk cowboy culture, stats-driven pressure, and how "good LP" used to be judged

[14:32] – Tony shares the wild story of his first attempted apprehension—complete with a knife, a getaway car, and a badge he technically didn’t have

[18:10] – How operational shrink and data started creeping into our mindset (even if we didn’t want to admit it)

[24:11] – Internals, journal rolls, covert cameras, and why catching employee theft was the ultimate LP puzzle

[30:58] – Exception-based reporting, bad coupon bias, and our philosophical divergence

[46:34] – Tony breaks down how he shifted from internal-focused to leading the charge on ORC

[55:23] – Johnny confesses: Tony almost converted him to the ORC dark side

[59:40] – The case for staying holistic in LP: Why focusing only on ORC could leave you exposed elsewhere

Practical Takeaways:

1. Build partnerships with Ops and HR — your job isn’t just enforcement, it’s influence.
2. Don’t ignore low-dollar theft — small patterns can hide big problems.
3. Don’t underestimate margin loss — it’s not just about theft, it’s about profitability.
4. Historical data matters — length of employment can be key to identifying internal theft patterns.
5. Use operational red flags as training moments — not every error